Early Life and Career
Sri Chellappa Mastry, born 1843 ,a dedicated and industrious coffee seed merchant and agriculturist, recognized for his unwavering devotion and honesty in business ethics, quickly gained the trust and respect of the Britishers. This trust led them to entrust him with the contract works of the 7 Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) mines, known as the Mysore Mines situated in Karnataka, India. This opportunity became the cornerstone of his main business ventures.
Flattering remarks:
Real kindness seeks no return; What return can the world make to rain clouds?
Agricultural Pursuits
In addition to his mining contracts, Sri Chellappa Mastry owned over 700 acres of agricultural land in the North Arcot District of erstwhile Madras Province, now the State of Tamil Nadu in India. His expertise and hard work in both agriculture and mining sectors showcased his diverse skills and commitment in contributing to the economy and employment to thousands of the under privileged mass in the pre independence era.
Educational Contributions
Sri Chellappa Mastry had a profound interest in the welfare and education of the community. In 1906, during his time at KGF, he constructed the “Chellappa School”. This institution provided free education to the children of the mine workers. Even today, the school building stands as a testament to his noble gesture and dedication in improving the lives and giving hopes to those around him. The students who have passed through the halls of this educational temple continue to benefit from his vision. The students are settled all over the world in high ranking positions varying from Scientists and Teachers to Bureaucrats’ and Member to Parliament. This school was recognised by the UNESCO for it yeoman’s services in the field of education for more than 100 years. The Alumni have erected a life size statue of Sri Chellappa Mastry in the school premises as a mark of respect and gratitude to this noble man.
Philanthropy and Community Service
Sri Chellappa Mastry’s compassion extended beyond education. During one of his visits to the Tirumala temple, he observed the lack of facilities for the downtrodden pilgrims which prompted him to build “The Chellappa Mastry and Co” Choultry at Tirupathi in the year 1907 . This establishment provided free lodging with food, and a pond for bathing, ensuring that pilgrims visiting Tirupathi had an assured place to rest and refresh before proceeding to the Tirumala Temple. This choultry, located on Prakasam Road,Tirupathi , still stands even today, over 100 years later, as a monument to his selfless generosity and concern for the downtrodden.
Impact on the Community
His selfless actions did not go unnoticed. People were often in awe of his noble intentions and the scale of his contributions to the society. Hundreds of bullock carts carrying building materials from various places were a common sight during the construction of the Choultry, sparking curiosity about the man behind such philanthropic deeds.
instance:
What we do today will determine what the world looks like tomorrow.
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
Legacy
Sri Chellappa Mastry was a philanthropist who always put the needs of the masses on priority. Whenever he visited his home in Vaduganthangal Virinchipuram hundreds of poor and needy individuals and families would gather at the Virinchipuram railway station, awaiting his arrival for monetary assistance. He was truly a man of the masses, always ready to help those in need.
ancient pictures of Sri Chellappa Mastry
Final Journey and Remembrance
When Sri Chellappa Mastry passed away on 21.6.1915 at the age of 72 years at Kolar Gold Fields, his mortal remains were brought to his Vaduganthangal, Virinchipuram home by a special train, consisting of one engine and two compartments. His tomb constructed in the style of a temple, stands even this day as a lasting tribute to his legacy and continues to inspire future generations. The inscriptions on stone there inscribed over 100 years ago corroborate even today that he was indeed a noble man of the masses.
Vision and Legacy
Sri Chellappa Mastry’s vision and foresight for the welfare and education of people during the pre-independence era were remarkable. His selflessness and dedication to improve the lives of others remain a beacon of inspiration. His contributions to education, community welfare, and philanthropy exemplify a life lived with purpose and compassion.
His son V.C Ramaswamy who did his education in St Joseph’s institution at Bangalore during early 1900’s, with the intention of bringing education near to the needy donated land for the establishment of a Government School in Vaduganthangal, Virinchipuram, further cementing his father’s commitment to education and community welfare. Children in thousands from several villages near and far have been benefitted from this noble gesture over the years. This School also exists even today managed by the Government of Tamilnadu. He even initiated by giving his vast bungalow for establishment of a Government Hospital in order to make medical facilities available for several villages in the vicinity till a permanent structure was built by the Government.
All the Philanthropic deeds and services to the society done by Sri Chellappa Mastry and his family are existing even today as a everlasting tribute to his legacy and continues to inspire future generations.
The descendants of Sri Chellappa Mastry are continuing the Philanthropic and Community Services of Sri Chellappa Mastry through a Registered Trust named “Sri Chellappa Mastry Seva Samithi” under the chairmanship of Sri R.Suriyanarayanan, the grandson of Sri Chellappa Mastry.
The Sri Chellappa Mastry Seva Samithi is a trust formed to carry on the legacy of the Philanthropic deeds and services to the society started by Sri Chellappa Mastry mainly to help the under privileged in pursuing their education and all other assistance in whaterever way would benefit them.
OBJECTS OF THE TRUST:
To establish, run, support and grant aid or other financial assistance to schools, colleges, libraries, reading rooms, universities, laboratories, research and other institutions of the like nature in India, for use of the students and the staff and also for the development and advancement of education and diffusion of knowledge amongst the public in general.
To establish, maintain and run studentships, scholarships and render other kind of aid to students including supply/ lending of books, book banks, stipends, medals and other incentives to study, without any distinction as to caste, color, race, creed or sex.
To promote, establish, support, maintain or grant aid to institutions and individuals for the promotion of science, literature, music, drama and fine arts, the preservation of historical monuments and for the research and other institutions, in India, having similar objects for the benefit of the public in general.
To establish, maintain or grant aid /support for the establishment and/or maintenance of parks, gardens, gymnasiums, sports clubs, dharamashalas, goshalas and rest houses for use by public in general.
To establish, maintain or grant aid to homes for the aged, orphanages or other establishments for the relief and help to the poor, needy and destitute people, orphans, widows and aged persons.
To establish and develop institutions for the physically handicapped and disabled or mentally retarded persons and old aged to provide them education, food, clothing or any other help.
To grant relief and assistance to the needy victims during natural calamities such as famine, earth quake, flood, fire, pestilence, etc. and to give donations and other assistance to institutions, establishments or persons engaged in such relief work.
To grant aid or render assistance to other public charitable trusts or institutions.
To conduct medical camps for the health and welfare of the general public.
To provide or distribute food / clothing to the needy in general and the inmates of old age homes/ orphanages or other such institutions.
The following quotes by great men are very relevant and apt in the context of the contribution of Sri Chellappa Mastry to the Society and his far sightedness:
Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
Real kindness seeks no return; What return can the world make to rain clouds?
Tiruvalluvar, Tamil Sage
Good things that a person gives out into the world are never lost.
Albert Schweitzer
The greatest people are those who are able to give hope.
Jean Jaures
